Disney board fends off Peltz infiltration bid

Disney CEO Bob Iger has defeated activist investor Nelson Peltz in a contentious proxy battle

Disney CEO Bob Iger
Bob Iger is now free to "push forward with his growth plan for Disney"
(Image credit: Charley Gallay / Getty Images for Disney)

What happened

Shareholders in the Walt Disney Co. voted down an effort by activist investor Nelson Peltz to join Disney's board on Wednesday, marking the second time in two years that Peltz's Trian Partners hedge fund has failed to infiltrate the company's governing body. 

Who said what

Disney CEO Bob Iger said he is "eager to focus 100%" of his attention now on "growth and value creation for our shareholders and creative excellence for our consumers." Trian said it was "disappointed" with the results but grateful for the "support and dialogue we have had with Disney stakeholders."

The commentary

Trian's defeat is a "vote of confidence in Iger" but has "drawn attention to Disney's CEO succession plan," Variety said. Iger's "botched succession" in 2020 was a "key point" in Trian's bid to infiltrate the board, CNBC said. 

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What next?

Iger is now free to "push forward with his growth plan for Disney," The New York Times said, citing efforts to "overhaul" ESPN, and expand Disney's theme park and cruise ship offerings.

Rafi Schwartz, The Week US

Rafi Schwartz has worked as a politics writer at The Week since 2022, where he covers elections, Congress and the White House. He was previously a contributing writer with Mic focusing largely on politics, a senior writer with Splinter News, a staff writer for Fusion's news lab, and the managing editor of Heeb Magazine, a Jewish life and culture publication. Rafi's work has appeared in Rolling Stone, GOOD and The Forward, among others.